The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-03-25
SELECT STORY.
THE SENURITA's SLIPPERS.

/
in the heart of the Pyrenees. Every
year Robert Fortescue and | used to
start off for our holiday tour on the
continent-that was in our bachelor
days, of course. Well, it was the las,
tour Fortescue and | we're destined to
have together, as it turned out, and af.
ter much hesitation and debating of
pros and cons we finally agreed to try
quite new grounds, and we started off
for the Pyrenees We stayed for a
few days at Pau, and after some pre-.
limiuary excursions among the neigh
boring heights, to get ourselves into
proper walking trim we made our final
arrangements, and having hired one OF
the best guides ever knew, Jose Mar
tinez by name, we said farewell to our
friends at the Hotel de "a Poste, and
set off cheerfully for our three weeks
sojourn in the mountains | won't
trouble you with an account of our
daily wanderings, but will go on to
the night of the adventure in question.
We had, of course, provided ourselves
with guns, etc., when we left England,
hoping TO be lucky enough to get a
shot at wolf at least, or, as our vanity
fondly whispered, perhaps bear but
hitherto, although we had been nearly
fortnight in the mountains, we had
seen nothing larger in the way of game
than hare.
Well, one afternoon, Fortescue, Jose,
and held a consultation as to what
we should do. We were at a point
where we must decide whether TO 90
down to the little village of San Luis
where Jose assured us we should find a
good inn aud a civil landlord, ,or wheth
er we should go higher up into the
mountains and take our chance of
whatever accommodation We might
lind. or course the latter suggestion
proved the more attractive with the
half tinge of adventure aud uncertainty
to the prosaic little inn at San Luis /;
and 30 we decided notwithstanding
some foreboding shakes of the head
from Jose.
We toiled upwards and onwards,
traversing wild and dreary expanse
of country, now passing through dark
odorous pine woods, now creeping
round some bold shoulder of a noun
tain whence we looked down on dim,
unexplored ravines, or farther on saw
some higher mountain range, its dark
sides wooded with the gloomy cork
tree, or rent by some Kissing torrent.
whose splash was the only sound that
broke the silence, and round whose
lofty crest wheeled an eagle in majestic
solitude.
Talking cheerily to each other, or
listening to Jose's inexhaustible stock
of legends, we at length found our
selves close upon an inn, and seeing
ruddy and cheerful glow from a CRATE
fire shining through the open doorway,
we decided to stay for the night if we
could be taken in. Jose told us the
house had been much frequented in by
gone days by contrabandists, and that
once Napoleon, or one of his generals
Il could not understand which,, had
slept there during the flight from
Spain.
The host, a stout, good-humored, gay
little Bayonnese, came forward at once,
and, after few words from Jose, in
the manner of Spaniards placed all
that he had at our disposal. All that
we wanted just then was supper and
bed; and while the former was getting
ready we Went upstairs to see what the
sleeping accommodation was like.
Neither Napoleon nor the contraban-
dists can have been particular as to
their bedrooms. There was but one
room with any pretension TO comfort
or cleanliness, and in that room we
both decided to sleep, telling Jose to
get fire lighted and another bed made
up while we were having supper
Thinking over things afterwards, l
remember a strange look fitted across
the landlords face when Jose told him
which room we meant to have, but he
said nothing and slightly shrugged his
shoulders. However, he and his wife
and daughter got us very decent sup
per of stewed hare aud bottle or two
of most irreproachable wine, which SO
far restored our content and good. hu-
NOR that we sat up until far into the
night talking and listening to Jose and
our host, who were discussing the
chances of sport higher up the noun
tains Oh the morrow.
''Come things lock better, said For |
tescue as we entered our sleeping room |
where now a wood fire cracked and |
glowed warmly on the hearth. "But
look here, the old woman has left her
shoes behind her-no! they must be
the daughters; and nicely shaped feet
they are too-no abominations of high
heels or pointed toes there and what a
arched instep! the tradi-
lional scream of water might safely
pass urder it," said Bob, who was a
great admirer of pretty feet, "I'll have
a look at that girl Tomorrow
"Perhaps | had better put them out.
side the door; she may want them in
he morning before We are down. l
said considerably; and | suited the
action to the word.
81 say, Jack, don't make such row,
you'll rouse the whole house. Jove!
what draughtl" said Bob, who was
lighting another pipe at the fire. ID
"Row! / made no row. put them
lown as gently as possible" | answer
ID, taking off my shooting-jacket and
up my watch.
"Well, old boy, don't be crusty but
-hullo say, Jack, didn't you put
hose shoes out, after all 7"
"Y-e-s," | answered slowly, for | was
my boots at that moment,
why, you heard me, didn't you'"
"Well, there they are, standing in
exactly the same place"
Nonsense |" l said, for l knew Bob
vas somewhat given to playing practi-
,al jokes, but ! raised my head, and
'ure enough there we're the shoes that
had a minute before thrown out.
Bob and / looked at each other for a
econd, then
'Put them out yourself this time,
Bob" said, 'if you don't believe me-"
md quietly, without word, he took
hem up aud gently placed them out
ide. | watched him keeply. As he